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H 4489

St. Phillip AME Church, 192nd anniversary

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Terry Alexander and 122 co-sponsors

Creates a state commission to probe drug prices, require manufacturers to disclose pricing/cost data, and issue cost-reduction recommendations with penalties for noncompliance.

Introduced and adopted
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Bill Summary · H 4489

Summary — H 4489

Note on records: The materials provided appear to contain two different measures under the label “H 4489.” One is a short House resolution recognizing St. Phillip AME Church (a ceremonial measure from a state house calendar). The other is a substantive Massachusetts bill titled “An Act to ensure affordable prescription medications through accountability standards.” Below are concise, separate summaries of each, followed by procedural notes and likely impacts.

A. Resolution: St. Phillip African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church — 192nd Anniversary

  • Purpose: To recognize and congratulate St. Phillip AME Church of Eastover on its 192nd anniversary and commend its service to God and the community.
  • Key provisions:
    • Recites the church’s history (founded circa 1835; early worship under a “bush arbor”; first pastor Rev. Anderson Burns; trustees named).
    • Notes historic events: sanctuary built in 1952 burned in 1981; current sanctuary dedicated December 13, 1981.
    • Notes planned anniversary events: brunch on June 21, 2025 and a homecoming worship service on June 22, 2025.
    • Directs that a copy of the resolution be presented to St. Phillip AME Church.
  • Who is affected: Primarily honorary — the church, its congregation, local community, and historical record.
  • Status/procedure: Introduced and adopted (filed 05/06/2025). Ceremonial/resolution with no regulatory or budgetary effects.

B. Substantive bill: “An Act to ensure affordable prescription medications through accountability standards” (Massachusetts draft text)

  • Purpose: To create a state review process to assess whether manufacturer drug prices are reasonable and to produce recommendations to improve drug affordability.

  • Key additions/amendments:

    • Adds a definition for “Biosimilar” (drug under 42 U.S.C. 262(k)(3)).
    • Adds Section 23 to chapter 6D establishing commission authority to require manufacturers to disclose pricing- and cost-related information on a standardized reporting form. Required disclosures include:
    • Wholesale Acquisition Cost (WAC) increases over the previous 5 calendar years;
    • Aggregate company-level R&D and relevant capital expenditures for the most recent audited year;
    • A public-ready narrative explaining factors driving WAC changes over the past 5 years;
    • Any other voluntary information.
    • Scope: Manufacturers of drugs referred to the commission by the center under chapter 12C, §25(b); commission may prioritize referrals.
    • Confidentiality: Submitted records are not public and remain confidential; the commission may publish summary findings that do not disclose proprietary price or rebate details.
    • Process and timelines:
    • If initial review suggests pricing may be unreasonable relative to the commission’s proposed value, the manufacturer must supply further information within 30 days.
    • The commission must issue a determination within 60 days after receiving manufacturer information and publish recommendations to reduce costs.
    • Possible recommendations: alternative purchasing or value-based payment models, bulk purchasing, changes to patient cost-sharing, reinsurance programs, etc.
    • Third-party analyses: If used, must disclose methodologies, assumptions, limitations, and subgroup outcomes (including impacts on racial/ethnic minorities and people with disabilities).
    • Enforcement: Civil penalty up to $500,000 for failure to comply or for knowingly obstructing the process; penalties deposited into the Payment Reform Fund. Penalties are to be a last resort.
    • Limitations: The proposed value or analysis is not intended to be used by MassHealth, carriers, hospitals, pharmacies, or providers to make individual patient coverage or utilization management decisions (e.g., step therapy).
    • Rulemaking: Commission authorized to adopt policies/regulations necessary to implement the section.
    • Note: Section 3 would amend §11N of chapter 12, but the provided text is truncated.

  • Who is affected:

    • Pharmaceutical manufacturers (subject to reporting and possible penalties).
    • State health policy bodies (commission and center) and their contracting/payor partners.
    • Health care payers, providers, and patients indirectly, through potential cost-reduction recommendations and programs.

  • Potential impact:

    • Greater transparency of manufacturer pricing drivers and potential leverage for state-level interventions or purchasing strategies.
    • Confidential handling balances proprietary information with public summaries; manufacturers may face administrative burden and risk of penalties.
    • The 60- and 30-day timelines create an expedited review cadence.
    • Explicit restriction on using proposed values for individual coverage decisions seeks to limit interference with clinical decision-making.

Procedural status and notes

  • Legislative actions (from provided record):
    • 05/06/2025: Resolution recognizing St. Phillip AME Church introduced and adopted.
    • 09/08–09/18/2025: Massachusetts draft (House No. 4489) reported from the Financial Services committee, new draft of H1092, reported favorably and referred to the committee on Health Care Financing.
  • Important caveat: The packet mixes a ceremonial resolution (appearing to be a South Carolina House resolution honoring St. Phillip AME Church) with a Massachusetts statute-level draft about prescription drug pricing. Verify the jurisdiction and final bill text before citing or acting on either measure.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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